Framing means for motion-picture machines.



B. STECHBART.

FRAMING MEANS FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY I. ISII. RENEWEDAUG. s. Ism.

1,287,504. Patenfed De@ 10,1918.

B. STECHBART. FRAMING MEANS FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY I9I7.

RENEWED AUG. 8.1918.

Patented Dec. 10, IIIIS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, f f m m m?, mm 3 6 Uf. o ma 2 A. 5 n I i b BRUNO STECHBART, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SST

AMERICAN PROJECTING COMPANY, 0F ,rlCrlrei', ILLINOS,

DELAl/VARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.'OR, BY MESNE FRIVING MEANS FOR MTION-FICTURE MACHINES.

lziiened Bec. ill, S3.

Application filed liafy 7, 1917. Serial ilo, Renewed August 1915. Serial lilo. 25.18.964.

Be it known that l, lnnrro S'riacinrrn'r, :i citien of the United States or" iimericn. nml s. resident of lineage, in the county of nooit, Stute ot' illinois, have invented certain new und useful improvements in lli-aiming lilenns for li'lotionllictnre lilechines, or' which the following' is n spocicetion.

rlhis invention relates to mot-ion picture machines of the intermittent film feeding type, und hns ior its object:

To provide n simple and eilicient strnctnrnlformntion and association or" parts or". the intermittent hlm feeding sprocket drum and accessories, adapted to attain n proper framing' or positioning of the tilm picture in relation to the light aperture or passage ot' the machine. Alles will hereinafter more fully appear.

ln the accompanying drawings Figure l, is e rear elevation of the iihn feeding and guiding mechanisms and nocessories, with the supporting frame or casing therefor, shown in section.

Fig. 2 is e. detail transverse section on line 2-Z, Fig. Li, of the rotary adjusting' inc-:ins of the intermittent film feeding sprocket drum;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the film feeding; and guiding' mechanism, and the associated driving mechanism ofthe film reels, with parts shown in section.

Fig'. 4, is :i detail longitudinal section on line lc-f4, Fig. l, ot the sssecifited light pessng'e or aperture, iilm gato, intermittent film feeding sprocket drum und accessories.

Fig. is a detail horizontal section on line 5 5, Fig. 3 of the iilm ,ente lntching means.

Similar reference'numernls indicate like pnrtsin the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates :i

` portion of :in inclosing' easing or box for the parts of o. motion picture machine.

Q designates the supporting` 'Frame or casing for the film feeding' and guiding mechanisms of the machine, secured to the vfront Well of the casing aforesaid, and having3 :it its forward end a transverse expended portion 3 adapted to contain the light shutter of the machine.

l designates vthe main operating' shaft of the machine, journiiled in the frame 2, :i foresnid, and adapted nsnnl lnind crianty 5 designates :i in the iframe .-,zii

or engagement with the .,rsely oresziiil nnil hanno' inter- 1 a mittent operatire connection with the main vtrein of gearing, und :in

sprocket drum oi' nnichine :ind operatively f carried b v the shaft 5 aforesaid.

7 designates 'n clutch carrying slnift jonrnnled in frame 2 aforesaid, und having oper- :itire connect-ion with the mein Shat't l by the nsiinl trnin of `gearing, :ind capable of engngcment with and disengagement from seid gearing, by an automatic clutch connection described in dei-:ril in my aforesaid compnnq ion application. n The shuttl' extends approximately the width ot' the mechanism, :indC :it its respective cnds carry sprocket li-mns 8 und S, adapted to hike up tho iihn :is it comes trom the mechanism, mid to feed the lilm in the Lorm ot o loop to such mechanism, :is nsnnl in the present type Ot' motion picture machines.

l0 desip'nntcs :i slinit jonrnnled in the freine 2 nloi'csniil. sind having' gearing' connection 'with the shaft 'i' nforesnid. i ll desig'nntes n heli pulley carried by the shrill lll. :1nd mhipted t'or driving' engagement with the endless driving; belt 0i' n film reeling' meclmnism, such is forms the subject metier of my companion application for Letters Patent Serial o. ltiti, led lr'lny 7, i917.

l2 designates n swinging' arm pii'oted to the side ol the tranne 2 aforesaid, und carryingl nem' its free end :i pnir of bearing' rollers i3 individuel to the take np sprocket drinn 8 aforesaid, und nornmlly adapt/ed to maint-nin the picture tilm in peripheral enlllll into the oblique bend or loop which the film must necessarily assume in its passage from on'e lm reel to another film reel in such rewinding operation.

14: designates a peripherally grooved roller journaled in an inclined direction on the side of the frame, 2, aforesaid, with its peripheral groove adapted to have guiding engagement with the edge of the picturelm to maintain its oblique loop in proper position during the film rewinding operation above referred to.

15 designates a light passage or aperture formed in the frame 2 aforesaid, with its with the aforesaid aperture plate 1G.

the `present improvement the film confining gate 17, is pivotally attached to the frame 2 aforesaid, by depending side extensions 18 at its lower end, and has a swinging move ment in a vertical planeto and from the aforesaid vertical film guiding aperture plate 16, to admit of the ready insertion and Vremoval of the picture film.

19 designates a uide roller journled transversely of the lm' gate 17 and at tbe upper end thereof, and' having close asso-A ciation with a; companion guide roller 20 on the upper portion of the frame 2 aforesaid, to provide an upper guiding means for the picture film, In the present structure said guide rollers 19, 20 in connection with the sprocket drum 9, constitute the forniing and maintaining means for the large and obliquely extending loop in the film, from which the supply of film to the intermittent film feeding mechanism, is taken with but little frictional impedance. f

21 designate upper and lower bearing f pads of textile or like elastic material, ar-

ranged transversely and adjacent to the respective upper and lower margins of the light aperture of the guide plate 1G, and secured to the film gate 17 by screws or like fastening means.

22 designate vertical spring members secured, at their midhei ht to the film gate 17, at opposite sides o the light aperture of the guide plate 16 and of the bearing pads 21 aforesaid, and having a flat loop form as shown, adapting them to eXert'an extended yielding stress upon the passing picture film and hold the same against the guide plate 16 without midue frictional retardance.

23 designa-tc a plurality of bearing rollersl journaled in the depending extensions 18 of the'film gate, and adapted to hold the picture film 'in proper operative engagement with the intermittentfilm feeding sprocket drum 6 aforesaid.

24 designates a curved breast plato preferably formed as an extension of the guide plate 16 aforesaid, with its curved portion arranged between the sprocket carrying end disks of the intermittent sprocket drum v(l and in line withthe perimeters of said disks. The breast plate 24 is adapted to support the' central portion of the passing film and is formed with a reversely curved lower end 24 adapted todeflect the film away from the sprocket drum 6 and aid in the formation of the usual loop in the film intermediate of' the sprocket drum 6 and the take up" sprocket drum 8 aforesaid. y

25 designate a pair of latch members having a transverse sliding movement on the upper part of the film gate 17 and provided with ,hpok shaped fianges 2G on their outer ends for holding engagement with lugs ou the casing 2 aforesaid. The inner ends of' the latch members 25 lap past each other and are provided with out-turned prongs or finger pieces 27 for convenient manual operation, and so that when said prongs 27 are pressed toward each other by the fingers of' the operator, the hook shape fianges 21' aforesaid, will move outwardly andt be released from their -holding engagement with the lugsof the frame 2, thus leaving the film gate 17 free for an opening or swinging movem'ent to release the picture film.

28 designate a spring interposed between theefinger pieces 27 aforesaid, and adapted to'force the'sarne apart, and in turn draw the latch members 25 together.

In the present improvement, the intermittent film feeding sprocket drum 64 is arranged immediately beneath the light passage 15 of the frame 2, with the rear part of its toothed periphery in line with the guide face of the vertical guide plate 1G aforesaid, andin connection with 'suchr arrangement the present improvement, involves accessories as follows:

29 designates a curved plate or apron fiXedly secured tothe lower ortion ofthe film gate19 and preferably formed with a lower reversely curved end 30. The plate 29 is arranged between the bearing disks of llti the rollers 28 aforesaid, and'is adapted in -v i Vconnectlon with the breast plate 24C heretoj Leer/,eee

The intermittent iilm feedingsprocket drum 6 aforesaid, is in the present improvementvmounted loosely on its carrying shatt 5, so as to be capable oi' a limited independ-- ent sliding` and turning adjustment with relation to said shaft and the sprocket drum 6 is normally locked to the shaft 5 by, inter ,engaging clutch teeth 3l on the adjacent ends of the drum 6 and a cluteh collar 32 fixed on the shaft 5, as shown.

33 desigaiatesl a spring arranged'within an enlarged counterbore of the sprocket drum 6 and having bearing against an abutment collar 3st on the shaft 5, with a normal tendency toV maintain the aforesaid clutch teeth 31m an engaged condition.

35 designates an operating shaft secured in alined relation tothe sprocket drum 6 aforesaid. rlhe shaft 35 extends laterally and is provided at its outer end with a handle or knob 36 for manual operation.

lith the above described construction, an outward pull or movement oi' the 'knob 36 and shaft 35 Will ettect a. disengagement oi" the clutch teeth 3l, against the yielding stress of the spring .33, and'in sueh'eondition of the parts, the operator can effect an independent turning adjustment of the sprocket drum G in one direction or the other, to attain a proper framing of the picture lni in relation to the light passage or vaperture of the machine.

Y lith-a ,view to prevent an excessive turning adjustment of the sprocket drum 6, and a consequent liability to tearing of the picture film, the v'extent of the independent adjustment above setl :torth is limited by the revision of an intereiwa ino4 )in and cir- D b cumferentially enlarged recess formation 37 onsleeve portions of the drum 6, and clutch collar'SQ fixed on the carrying shaft 5 aforesaid, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

Having thus fulljY described my said in vention, what-I clann as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In a lihnpfeeding mechanism for motion picture machines, the combination of an ioperating shaft, a iilm feeding,- sprocket drum mounted for independent circular and longitudinal adjustments on said shaft, a clutch collar fixed on said shaft the adjacent faces oiz' said drum and clutch collar having interengaging teeth, andan adjusting shaft secured in axial almement'to an end of the clutch collar xeden said of April, 1917.

sprocket drinn and havin@ at its outer end an operating rhandle, substantially as. set forth.

Q. In a flan feeding mechanism for motion picture machines, the combination of an op'- eratingshaiit, a. lm 'feeding sprocket drum mounted for independent circular and longitudinal ad'ustinents on 'said shaft, means for limiting t e extent of the circular adjustment aforesaid, a clutch collar fixed on said shaft, the adjacent faces or said drum and `cluteh collar having interengaging teeth, and

an adjusting shaft secured in axial alinement to an end of the sprocketv drum and having at its outer end an operating handle, substantially as set forth.

3. ln a film feeding mechanism for motion lpicture machines,

lsecured in axial alinement to an end of the sprocket drum and'having at its outer end an operating handle, substantially Vas set forth.v l 'v et. ln a ilm feeding mechanism for motion picture machines, the combination of an operating shaft having an abutment collar on its inner end, a film feeding sprocket drum mountedfor independent vCircular `and longitudinal adjustments on said shaft and formed with an enlarged counterbore adapted to receive the abutment i collar aforesaid, a

cent faces of said drum and collar having interengaging teeth. a spring arranged in the counteroore of the sprocket drum intermediate of an end of the same and theabutment collar aforesaid, and an adjusting shaft secured in axial alinement to an end ofthe sprocket drum .and having at its outer end an operating handle, substantially asv set forth. Y

signed at chicago, nunon, this 16th dey enano' srnonsanr.

shaft, the adja- 9 ioo 

